XOR

XOR:

eXclusive OR

XOR, short for exclusive OR, is a logical operation that takes two binary inputs and returns true if and only if one of the inputs is true, but not both. In other words, if one input is 1 (true) and the other is 0 (false), the output will be 1. However, if both inputs are either 0 or 1, the output will be 0. This operation is commonly used in computer science and digital electronics, particularly in the fields of cryptography and error detection.

In the context of cybersecurity, XOR is often used for encryption algorithms. By applying the XOR operation between the plaintext (the original message) and a key (a sequence of bits), one can create ciphertext (the encrypted message). This process is reversible: applying XOR again with the same key to the ciphertext retrieves the original plaintext. The strength of this method depends on the key's randomness and length; when done correctly, XOR can provide a simple yet effective layer of security.

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